WEHOonline’s recent partial list of traffic safety rules in their story on the Sheriff’s Monday enforcement operation is a step in the right direction. But it leaves the impression that drivers are solely responsible for safety. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Last night on Santa Monica Boulevard, I saw three people riding electric scooters against traffic. While riders may think facing oncoming cars helps them see traffic, it actually gives drivers less time to react. Yelling “Whee!” does not provide any protection at all.
Something unexpected coming at a driver can cause them to swerve into another lane or into another car. Scooters are hard to maneuver quickly. Jerk the handlebars and you risk crashing with little protection.
A driver checking mirrors before opening a car door may not see a fast-approaching scooter. That leads to collisions and severe injuries to the rider.
During the same walk, a headlamp came right at me on the sidewalk, where I expected to be safe. Like a deer in headlights, I froze, unsure which way to move. Electric bicycles are motorcycles.
Is it too much to ask for these riders to be as concerned about my safety as I am about theirs?
Here is the kicker: the scooter rider is responsible for repairing any damage to a car. They are responsible for the psychological trauma the driver suffers. The e-bike rider is responsible for any damage done to my body or mind. Do you think those riders had enough cash to cover what they might cause?
Companies like Uber and Lime need to take more responsibility for the safety of their riders and everyone else on the road. They do not check whether customers know anything about scooter or bicycle safety. They do not check whether renters carry liability insurance. They do not check whether the person operating their vehicle is even sober. Until they do, these companies will profit at WeHo’s expense.
Scott Williams is a West Hollywood resident.
Dear WeHo is WEHOonline’s letters section, offering West Hollywood residents a forum to speak freely on issues affecting their community. The opinions expressed are those of the letter writer and do not reflect the views of WEHOonline or its staff.
Scott, you make a great deal of practical sense when you suggest that scooter drivers be required to hold licenses and insurance. These requirements would provide needed protection for drivers and others on the road. Such regulation is in line with public safety and similar laws covering automobile safety.
This truly underscores the need for wide, protected scooter/bike lanes on Santa Monica Boulevard. The current “bike lanes” are really just a convenient place parking space for Ubers and delivery trucks. A protected scooter/bike lane would protect both pedestrians & scooter and bike riders. These groups are those who lack a protective metal shell around them and so protecting their health and safety should be prioritized over cars. I think we need to make the hard but worthwhile decision to remove one row of parking and allow for a two direction bike lane.
When there are actual consequences for bad actions..people commit fewer bad actions. We just don’t enforce our laws enough these days. People do what they do because they know they can get away with it. A $150 ticket might deter them from riding on the sidewalk. We need more of it. People will get the message..they just need to be hit upside the head with it.
Everyone who reads this Dear WeHo letter should send it to the city council and to Danny Rivas and Jackie Rocco! It’s about time our city does something about this problem because it is never going to go away unless they address it!!!
And it is not just scooters anymore on the sidewalk. It’s scooters, E bikes, and delivery robots, all of which they approved…and we don’t stand a chance as pedestrians!
Danny Rivas. LOL
I second that, Mikie!
Yes, cyclopaths, that’s what they really are. Enboldened by Erickson, who’s getting kickbacks to push through the Fountain fiasco, these cyclopaths believe traffic rules don’t apply to them.
Proven to be true.